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APRIL 13, 1993 Page 47
ARTICLE VIII
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
SECTION 1. There shall be a Principal
Justice of the Newstates for America; a
Judicial Council; and a Judicial Assembly.
There shall also be a Supreme Court and a
High Court of Appeals; also Courts of
Claims, Rights and Duties, Administrative
Review, Arbitration Settlements, Tax Ap-
peals, and Appeals from Watchkeeper's
Findings. There shall be Circuit Courts to
be of first resort in suits brought under
national law; and they shall hear appeals
from courts of the Newstates.
Other courts may be established by law
on recommendation of the Principal Jus-
tice with the Judicial Council.
SECTION 2. The Principal Justice shall
preside over the judicial system, shall ap-
point the members of all national courts,
and, unless the Judicial Council object,
shall make its rules; also, through an
Administrator, supervise its operations.
SECTION 3. The Judicial Assembly
shall consist of Circuit Court Judges, to-
gether with those of the High Courts of the
Newstates of America and 'those of the
highest courts of the Newstates. It shall
meet annually, or at the call of the Princi-
pal Justice, to consider the state of the
Judiciq and such other matters as may
be laid before it.
It shall also meet at the call of the
Convener to nominate three candidates for
the principal Justiceship whenever a va-
cancy shall occur. From these nominees
the Senate shall choose the one having the
most votes.
SECTION 4. The Principal Justice, un-
less the Senate object to any, shall appoint
a Judicial Council of five members to serve
during his incumbency. He shall desig-
nate a senior member who shall preside in
his absence.
It shall be the duty of the Council, under
the direction of the Principal Justice, to
study the courts in operation, to prepare
codes of ethics to be observed by members,
and to suggest changes in procedure. The
Council may ask the advice of the Judicial
Assembly.
It shall also be a duty of the Council, as
hereinafter provided, to suggest Constitu-
tional amendments when they appear to be
necessary; and it shall also draft revisions
if they shall be required. Further it shall
examine, and from time to time cause to be
revised, civil and criminal codes; these,
when approved by the Judicial Assembly,
shall be in effect throughout the nation.
SECTION 5. The Principal Justice shall
have a term of eleven years; but if at any
time the incumbent resign or be disabled
from continuing in office, as may be deter-
mined by the Senate, replacement shall be
by the senior member of the Judicial Coun-
cil until a new selection be made.. After six
years the Assembly may provide, by a two-
thirds vote, for discontinuance in office,
and a successor shall then be chosen.
SECTION 6. The Principal Justice may
suspend members of any court for inca-
pacity or violation of rules; and the separa-
tion shall be final if a majority of the
Council agree.
SECTION 7. A presiding judge may
decide, with the concurrence of the senior
judge, that there may be pretrial proceed-
ings, that criminal trials shall be con-
ducted by either investigatory or adversary
proceedings, and whether there shall be a
jury and what the number of jurors shall
be; but investigatory proceedings shall re-
quire a bench of three.
SECTION 8. In deciding on the concor-
dance of statutes with the Constitution,
the Supreme Court shall return to the
House of Representatives such as it cannot
construe. If the House fail to make return
within ninety days the Court may inter-
pret.
SECTION 9. The Principal Justice, or
the President, may grant pardons or re-
prieve s.
SECTION 10. The High Courts shall
have thirteen members; but nine mem-
bers, chosen by their senior justices from
time to time, shall constitute a court. The
justices on leave shall be subject to recall.
Other courts shall have nine members;
but seven, chosen by their senior, shall
constitute a court.
All shall be in continuous session ex-
cept for recesses approved by the Principal
Justice.
SECTION 1 1. The Principal Justice, with
the Council, may advise the Senate, when
requested, concerning the appropriateness
of measures approved by the House of
Representatives; and may also advise the
President, when requested, on matters he
may refer for consultation.
SECTION 12. It shall be for other
branches to accept and to enforce judicial
decrees.
SECTION 13. The High Court of Appeals
may select applications for further consid-
eration by the Supreme Court of decisions
reached by other courts, including those of
the Newstates. If it agree that there be a
constitutional issue it may make prelimi-
naryjudgment to be reviewed without hear-
ing, and finally, by the Supreme Court.
SECTION 14. The Supreme Court may
decide:
a. Whether, in litigation coming to it
on appeal, constitutional provisions have
been violated or standards have not been
met.
b. On the application of constitu-
tional provisions to suits involving the
Newstates.
c. Whether international law, as rec-
ognized in treaties, United Nations agree-
ments, or arrangements with other ea-
tions, has been ignored or violated.
d. Other causes involving the inter-
pretation of constitutional provisions; ex-
cept that in holding any branch to have
exceeded its powers the decision shall be
suspended until the Judicial Court shall
have determined whether, in order to avoid
confrontation, procedures for amendment
of the Constitution are appropriate.
If amendatory proceedings are insti-
tuted, decision shall await the outcome.
SECTION 15. The Courts of the
Newstates shall have initial jurisdiction in
cases arising under their laws except those
involving the Newstate itself or those re-
served for national courts by a rule of the
Principal Justice with the Judicial council.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Qualifications for partici-
pation in democratic procedures as a citi-
zen, and eligibility for office, shall be sub-
ject to repeated study and redefinition; but
any change in qualification or eligibility
shall become effective only if not disap-
proved by the Congress.
For this purpose a permanent Citizen-
ship and Qualifications Commission shall
be constituted, four members to be ap-
pointed by the President, three by the
Convener of the Senate, three by the
Speaker of the House, and three by the
Principal Justice. Vacancies shall be filled
as they occur. The members shall choose
a chairman; they shall have suitable assis-
tants and accommodations; and they may
have other occupations. Recommenda-
tions of the commission shall be presented
to the President and shall be transmitted to
the House of Representatives with com-
ments. They shall have a preferred place
on the calendar and, if approved shall be in
effect.
SECTION 2. Areas necessary for the
uses of government may be acquired at its
valuation and may be maintained as the
public interest may require. Such areas
shall have self-government in matters of
local concern.
SECTION 3. The President may negoti-
ate for the acquisition of areas outside the
Newstates of America, and, if the Senate
approve, may provide for their organiza-
tion as Possessions or Territories.
SECTION 4. The President may make
agreements with other organized peoples
for arelation other than full membership in
the Newstates of America. They may be-
come citizens and may participate in the
selection of officials. They may receive
assistance for their development or from
the National Sharing Fund if they conform
to its requirements; and they may serve in
civilian or military services, but only as
volunteers. They shall be represented in
the House of Representatives by members